St. Anthimus I of Constantinople, also Anthimus of Trebizond, was the Patriarch of Constantinople during the years 535 and 536. Although sympathetic to the anti-Chalcedon cause, he was elected patriarch avowing support of the pro-Chalcedon faction in the Church. He was subsequently deposed after his sympathies for the anti-Chalcedon cause became known.

Life

The early life of St. Anthimus is largely unknown. He was the Bishop of Trebizond before he became the Patriarch of Constantinople. In 532, he had participated in meetings at Constantinople concerning religious and political unity between the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire. While outwardly supporting the pro-Chalcedon party concerning the ongoing controversy over the council, St. Anthimus corresponded with Patriarchs St. Severus of Antioch and Theodosius of Alexandria, who were key leaders of the anti-Chalcedon movement within the Eastern Churches.

After the death of Patriarch Epiphanius in June 535, Empress St. Theodora, who was sympathetic to Miaphysitism, orchestrated the appointment of St. Anthimus as patriarch of Constantinople over the objections of the pro-Chalcedon clergy. While openly maintaining communion with pro-Chalcedon Pope Agapetus I of Rome, St. Anthimus continued to quietly supported the resistance to Chalcedon. In March 536, Pope Agapetus visited Constantinople and discovered St. Anthimus' true sympathies as upon his arrival members of the clergy entered charges against him as an intruder and heretic. After St. Anthimus refused to make a written profession of faith, Agapetus broke off ecclesiastical communion with the patriarch and then convened a synod that deposed him as patriarch.

Deposition and Repose

After St. Anthimus was condemned and deposed, he entered into monastic seclusion under the protection of empress Theodora until her death in 548. While in retirement he concelebrated the consecration of St. Jacob Baradaeus to the episcopacy, thus playing a key role in the survival of the hierarchy of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The date of his repose is unknown. St. Anthimus is recognized as a saint by the Armenian, Malankara, and Syriac Orthodox Churches.